POLYHERBAL FORMULATED

Medicinal plants have long been essential in traditional and alternative medicine due to their accessibility, affordability, and minimal side effects. Combining two or more herbs can provide diverse health benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a polyherbal formulated tea comprising Anthocleista djalonensis, Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum, Ageratum conyzoides, and Thespesia garckeana on haematological indices in Wistar rats with hyperlipidaemia induced by an atherogenic diet. Twenty-five rats were divided into five groups of five: group 1 served as the normal control, group 2 as the cholesterol control, groups 3 and 4 received polyherbal tea at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg, respectively, and group 5 was treated with atorvastatin (5 mg/kg). Hyperlipidaemia was induced in groups 2 to 5 by administering 10 mg/kg of 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid. Treatments and the cholesterol diet were administered orally for 28 days. Blood samples were collected and analysed using a haematology auto analyser. The polyherbal tea at both 20 and 40 mg/kg doses significantly reduced platelet counts compared to the cholesterol control group (p < 0.01), while other haematological parameters remained unaffected (p > 0.05). These results suggest that the polyherbal tea may have antiplatelet and cardioprotective effects.